Share this article

Jac and Rus Haggata, who run a pig sanctuary, Pigs in the Woods, took Savvi in and he now weighs a staggering 15-stone.

Because he developed a special friendship with their pet dog, Skye, he has remained in their home in Skelmonthorpe, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire ever since.

Technical manager, Rus, 43, said: 'Savvi really does think he is a dog. As soon as we took Savvi in, he and Skye had such a close bond that we could not separate them.

Showing how it's done: The 18-month-old boar already thinks he's a collie after learning many tricks and habits from his mentor Skye when he was taken in by the Haggata family as a piglet

Adopted: Jac and Rus Haggata, who run a pig sanctuary, Pigs in the Woods, took Savvi in

Because he developed a special friendship with their pet dog Skye he has remained in their home in Skelmonthorpe, West Yorkshire ever since. The pair used to go on walks together

'And because she was just learning the way of the world, she learned all her skills from Skye.

'Skye was like a mother to Savvi. They were inseparable. They would sleep together, go on walks together and always be by each other's sides, it was lovely to see.'

Rus and part-time social worker, Jac, 52, would take the pair in the car to see their pig friends at the sanctuary for walks and visits.

They also slept together on a giant dog bed set up in their living room behind the sofa.

At home Savvi will go to the door to ask to be let out if he needs to do his business - having his own special spot in the garden where he has to go. He also has his own squeaky toy - Mr Squeak - that he will bring out when he wants to play.

Cute: They also slept together on a giant dog bed set up in their living room behind the sofa

But the Haggatas and their sons, Nathan, 27, and Hayden, 14, fear for Savvi after Skye's death

Lonely: Only last week Savvi had to be rescued by firefighters when he took flight from his garden, possibly looking for Skye, breaking through a fence and ending up in a stream

But now the Haggatas and their sons, Nathan, 27, and Hayden, 14, fear for Savvi following Skye's death.

The much-loved collie died in her sleep of kidney failure and a heart attack.

Father-of-two Rus said: 'He is so incredibly sad, you can see if in his face.'

Only last week Savvi had to be rescued by firefighters when he took flight from his garden, possibly looking for Skye, breaking through a fence and ending up in a stream. It took eight firefighters to rescue him from the cold, muddy ditch.

Rus said: 'At the moment Savvi has taken on the role of our family dog but it looks like Savvi will have to go outside and join his other pig friends in the woods.

'Now Skye has gone he wouldn't be very happy on his own. He needs friends.

'He is also still growing.'

The pig sanctuary began six years ago when Jac and Rus lived in Cornwall. They have now moved their vocation up north where they continue to take in pigs.